Self-closing faucet for portable containers



ifi-99,088

June 24. 1924.

A. W. WHEATON. JR

SELF CLOSING FAUCET Fon PORTABLE CONTAINERS Filed March 16 1922 @hill Patented .lune 24, i924.

BRAM W. WHEATON, JR., 0F MPLEWOOD, NEW il' 'Irma SELF-CLOSING FAUCET FOR PORTABLE CONT i il" i Application led March 16, 1922. Serial No. 544,101.

in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, an to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

rllhis invention relates, generally, to improvements in self-closing faucets; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of self-closing faucet in combination with drums, barrels and similar portable containers, whereby the novel faucet is adapted to be secured to the container in either an in service or out of service position.

rlfhe invention has for its principal object to provide a novel construction of self-closing and lockable faucet for use with portable containers, whereby when the container with which it is associated is shipped, the faucet may be attached thereto in an interiorly disposed relation to the container so as to accompany the same, while at the sameI` time being protected against injury during the transit of the contamer, but which may be readily removed and reattached to the container to occupy an operative relation thereto when it is desired to tap the contents of the latter. To the above ends the faucet is provided with a novel construction of collapsible operating handle, in combination with means whereby the handle may be secured or locked against manipulation while in its collapsed or folded relation to the faucet.

The invention has for a further object to provide a novel combination and relation of its. several parts, whereby the same is especially adapted for service in combination with' portable containers.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

With the various objects of this invention in view, the same consists, primarily, in the novel self-closing and lockable faucet for portable containers hereinafter set forth; and the invention consists, furtherfore, in the novel arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in o0 the details of the constructionof the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then nally 4embodied in the claims appended thereto.

A rlhe invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of a portable container',Y

showing the novel self-closing faucet attached thereto in an out of service pom'- 70 tion ready for shipping; Figure 2 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 1, but illustrating the novel self-closing faucet attached to the container in an in service position ready for the operation of tapping the contents of the container; Figure 3 is a lon tudinal vertical section of the novel se fclosing faucet, detached from the container, said vlew bemg drawn on an enlarged scale;

Figure l is a plan elevation of a portion of 80 the outer end of the self-closing faucet, illustrating the novel actuating handle thereof in plan, and occupyin its inoperative or collapsed relation to t e faucet; and Figure 5 is a detail transverse section, taken on line S5 5 5 in said Figure 3. A

Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference character 6 indicates a portable conu tainer, such, e. g., as a metallic drum or barrel, commonly employed for shipping liquids, such as oil, paints, etc., and in connection with an end or head 7 thereof it is 95 desirable to provide a faucet or tap by means of which the contents thereof may be drawn olf. Since such drums or barrels must of necessity beV subjected to more or less rough handling during shipment thereof, it is desirable to so arrange the faucet or tap, that the same is protected against injury during the transit of the container to which it is attached, and consequently the present invention seeks to provide a novel construction of self-closing type of faucet in combination with means for supportingthe same in an interiorly disposed or projected relation to thecontainer, as distinguished from the exteriorly disposed or projected relation which it must bear to the latter when employed to draw o ,im content ofthe same.

With such purposes in view, the novel selfclosing faucet is designed to be mounted on the mner end of a carrying plug or bung to project into the interior of the container so as to be enclosed therein while the latter is in transit, but which may be readily withdrawn by disconnecting the carrying plug or bung, and then removing the faucet therefrom so that the same may be attached in operative relation to the container, as will subsequently be more fully described. To the above described end, the head 7 of the container 6 is provided with an internally screw threaded opening 8, adapted to receive an externally screw-threaded carrying plug or bung 9, which is provided in its inner end with an internally screw-threaded socket 10, and at its outer end with a polygonal boss 11 to receive the operative attachment of a suitable wrench for manipulating the plug or bung.

The novel-self-closing faucet comprises a main body 12 having atits rear portion an interior chamber 13 open at its outer end and provided with internal screw-threads 14.

Connected with the rear end of said main4 body 12 by an externally threaded portion 15 which engages the internal screw-threads 14 of the said main body is a nipple member 16 having a longitudinaltpassage 17 extending therethrough which communicates at its inner end with the interior of said chamber 13 of said main body. Said nipple member 16 is provided intermediate its ends with an external nut portion 18 upon which a wrench may be ap lied to turn the said nipple. Projecting rom the inner end of said nipple member 16, so as to surround the mouth of said passage 17, is an annular boss providing a valve seat 19. Longitudinally movable in said chamber 13 of said main body 12 is a valve member 20, the movements of which are guided and controlled by a plurality ot' longitudinal guide-ribs 21, which are integrally formed in connection with the inner sides of the walls of said chamber 13,J and which serve to prevent lateral displacement of the valve member 2O from the operative longitudinal path of movement whereby the same maybe caused to move toward and away from its normal seated engagement with the valve seat 19. Said valve member 20 is provided with a valve facing or washer 22 of a suitable resilient material, such as rubber, leather or the like. Normall Y said valve member 20 occupies a position w erein its facing or washer 22 is irmly engaged with the valve seat 19, so that the passage 17 of the nipple member 16 is normally closed against the flow of liquid therethrough and into said chamber 13 of the main body 12. Said main body 12 is provided, at one side, with a discharge orifice 23, which communicates with the `interior of said chamber 13. Connected with said Valve member 20 is an to occupy an inoperative position.

outwardly and longitudinally extending central valve stem 24. Integrally connected with said main body 12, to project outwardly and longitudinally from its forward end, is a guide sleeve or bearin-gextension 25 of reduced diameter, having an opening or way 26 through which said valve stem 24 extends,

member 20 to normally thrust the same int-o closed engagement with said valve seat 19. Provided in one side of said sleeve or bearing extension 25, toward its outer end, is a longitudinal slotor opening 29, and correspondingly formed in the opposite side of said sleeve or bearing extension 25 is an opposed longitudinal slot or opening 30. Projecting from said sleeve or bearing extension 25, so as to border the slot or opening 30 are a pair of perforate ears or fulcrum lugs 31. Fulcrumed o n a cross-pin 32 supported by and between said ears or lugs 31 is a valve actuating lever 33, which extends transversely through the slot or opening 30, thence through a slot or opening 34 provided in the valve stem24, to thence project outwardly through the slot or opening 29 at the opposite side of said sleeve or bearing extension 25. Pivotally connected, by a pivot pin 35, with the outer end of said valve actuating lever 33 is a collapsible hand lever or, handle 36, the same having at its inner pivoted end perforate side portions 37 to receive the connection of said pivot pin 35, and being further provided at said inner or pivoted end with an extension or projecting portion 38 to engage the lever 33 at a point beyond the pivotal connection of the handle therewith, so as to prevent collapse of the handle member 36 relative to the actuating lever 33 in the direction toward which operative pressure is applied to said parts when the handle 36 is raised and alined with the lever 33 for the purpose of operating the latter. Said hand lever or handle 36 is provided in its body with a slot 39, which is adapted to engage over a perforate lug or eye 40, formed integrally with the main body 12 to project outwardly therefrom, when said hand lever or handle 36 is in folded down or collapsed against the main body 12 When the handle 36 is thus folded down or collapsed, a pad-lock (not shown) may be engaged through said lug or eye 4.0, to lock said handle in inoperative position, and consequently prevent unauthorized manipulation of the faucet.

'Ehe free end of said nipple member 16 is naeaoee externally screw threaded as at 41. To connect the faucet member, constructed as above described, in its out of service and protected relation to the drum or barrel 6, ready for shipment, the plug or bung 9 is unscrewed from the head7 of the drum or barrel, and the free end of the nipple member 16 is screwed into the socket 10 at the inner side of said plug or bung 9; the faucet is then inserted lengthwise through the threaded opening 8 of the head 7 until the plug or bung 9 engages and is screwed into said opening, whereupornthe faucet is securely supported and enclosed within the drum or barrel, as shown in Figure 1.' rlhe drum or `barrel may now be handled and shipped, without danger of injuring the faucet. `When the drum or barrel reaches its destination after shipment, the plug or bung 9 is unscrewed to permit the withdrawal of the faucet. rlhe faucet is then dctached from the plug or bung 9, and the latter is -replaced in closing relation to the opening 8. yfhe head 7 of the drum or barrel is provided with a second internally threaded opening 42, normally closed by a plug or bung 43. Ilihis opening e2 corresponds in size to the threaded end of the nipple member 16, and consequently when the faucet is detached from out of service relation to the drum or barrel 6, said plug or bung 48 is removed, and the nipple member 16 is screwed into the opening 42 so that the faucet projects outwardly therefrom, to occupy an operative or in service relation to the drum or barrel 6, as shown in Figure 2.

When the faucet is arranged in said operative or in service position, the same may be actuated to tap `the contents of the drum or barrel, by first releasing the handle 36 from the lug or eye 40, and then turning the same upwardly and outwardly, to the dotted position shown in Figure 3, to aline the same in operative relation to said actuating lever. By then swinging forward thc -handle 36, in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 3, the lever 33.is caused to turn on its fulcrum, thereby transmitting to said valve stem 24 an outward movement which withdraws the valve member 20 from the seat 19 against the tension of the spring 28, whereupon the liquid content of the drum or. barrel will flow through the passage 17 into the chamber 13 to bethence discharged through .the discharge orifice 23. When the handle 36 is released. the stored tension of the spring 28 will immediately move the valve 20 to closed engagement with the seat 19 thus shutting off the flow of liquid from the drum or barrel. The handle 36 may be. again folded down to collapsed position over the lug oreye ll0, and again locked to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the faucet and withdrawal of the content of the drum or barrel.

f am aware that some change may be made in the arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, aswell as in the details of the construction of the same,

without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the appended claims. Hence, l do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts as described yin the foregoing specification, nor do i confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1. t self-closing faucet, comprising a main body having an interior chamber open at its rearward end, said rearward opening of said main body being internally threaded, said vmain body having a discharge orifice in its side, a longitudinal tubular extension projecting centrally outward from the forward end of said main body, a valve member longitudinally movable in said chamber of said main body, longitudinal guide ribs on the interior walls of said chamber for retaining .said valve member againstlateral displacement during movement thereof, a longitudinal stem projecting forwardly from said valve member to extend through said tubular extension of said main body, said extension having opposed slots in its walls, an actuating lever pivotally connected with said eX- tension' to pass transversely through said slots, said valve stem having an opening through which said lever passes to operatively associate the same with said stem, and a nipple member threaded into the rearward open end of said main body, said nipple member having a longitudinal passage there# through, an annular valve seat projection surrounding the inner end of said nipple passage with which said valve member cooperates, and said nipple member being externaliy threaded at its outer end.

2. A self-closing faucet device for portable containers, comprising a main body having a forward longitudinal central extension, said main body having a discharge orifice, a spring closed valve in said main body having a stem movable through said extension, said extension having opposed slots in its walls, an actuating lever pivotally connected with said extension to pass transversely through said slots, said valve stem having an opening in its body through which said lever passes to operatively associate the same with said stem. a collapsible handle device connected with the free end of said lever, and means for locking the handle in collapsed folded down relation to the exterior side of said main body.

3. A self-closing faucet for portable containers, comprising a main body having an interior chamber open at its rearward end,

said rearward opening of said main body being internally threaded, said main body having a discharge orifice in its side, a longitudinal tubular extension projecting centrally outwardv from the forward end of said main body, a valve member lon itudi ually movable in said chamber of sai main body, longitudinal guide ribsr on the interior lwalls of said chamber for retaining said valve member against lateral displacement during movement thereof, a longitudinal stem projecting forwardly from said valve member to extend through said tubular extension of said main body, said extension having opposed slots in its Walls, an actuating lever pivotally connected with said eX- tension to pass transversely rthrough said slots, said valve stem having an opening through which said lever passes to operative- 1y associate the same with said stem, a collapsible handle device connected with the free end of said lever, means for locking said handle in collapsed position, and a nipple member threaded into the rearward open end of said main body, said nipple member having a longitudinal passage therethrough, an annular valve seat projection surrounding the inner end of said nipple passage with which said valve member cooperates. and -said nipple member being i externally threaded at its outer end.

ln testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of March, 1922. ABRAM W. WHEATON, JR. Witnesses: n

GEORGE D. RICHARDS, EVA E. DEsmLr 

